LONDON, 20 JUNE 2016 – The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) has announced the appointment of two regional advisors on ICTs: Dr Marianne Treschow, Regional Advisor for Scandinavia and Northern Europe and Gisa Fuatai Purcell, Regional Advisor for the South Pacific. The announcement of the appointments was made last week by Secretary-General Shola Taylor.

The CTO’s activities throughout the Commonwealth cross national and regional boundaries, but there is a need for the Organisation to stay abreast of the regional priorities of its members.

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Treschow and Ms Purcell,” said Shola Taylor. “The CTO’s mandate to coordinate Commonwealth positions at international ICT events necessitates us staying up-to-date with regional issues, and our Regional Advisors will ensure our engagement in these areas.”

“I am greatly honoured to be appointed as Regional Advisor for Scandinavia and Northern Europe,” Dr Treschow said. “I strongly believe in the work of the CTO, building ICT capacity across the Commonwealth and look forward to working further with the CTO, building on my work as an Ambassador for the Organisation.”

Gisa Fuatai Purcell is the former Head of the ITU’s Division on LDCs, SIDS, and LLDCs; Climate Change Adaption and Disaster Risk Reduction; and Emergency Telecommunication. Gisa was the first woman to lead this division and the first Pacific Island person to have worked at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva. She successfully managed many projects around the world including early warning systems using ICTs, satellite connectivity, ICT capacity building and ICT infrastructure including submarine cables. She has a Master of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.

Dr Marianne Treschow is the former Director-General and member of the Board of the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS). She is also senior advisor to Ericsson Group; advisor, Europe to VoIPSolutions; founder and CEO of TreschowConsulting; European expert to Global Network Women in ICT (WITNET); member of the Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA); and member of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs. In addition to a long career in PTS she has also held a number of important positions in Sweden including director of the Swedish Space Agency; director of the Swedish Natural Sciences Research Council; and Associate Professor in structural chemistry at the Stockholm University. Among the many international positions she has held are member of the Troika Board in the European Commission; chair of the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) from 2006 to 2010; head of delegation of the European Regulators Group (ERG) from 2004 to 2010; and Councillor to the ITU and its Council from 2006 to 2010.

About the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation
The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) is the oldest and largest Commonwealth intergovernmental organisation in the field of information and communication technologies. Although our history can be traced back to 1901 with the establishment of the Pacific Cable Board, the organisation has only existed in its present form as an intergovernmental treaty organisation since 1967. With a diverse membership spanning developed and least developed countries, small island developing states, and more recently also the private sector and civil society, the CTO aims to become a trusted partner for sustainable development for all through ICTs. More information about us here